By Karen E. Klein Q: I am in the United States on H-1B visa status and I would like to start a corporation. Are there any restrictions on my doing so, or any special circumstances I should know about? -- M.R., Los Angeles

A: An H-1B visa only authorizes an alien to have temporary work authorization in the U.S. for the specific employer who is sponsoring him, says Eli Kantor, an immigration and employment attorney based in Los Angeles. Your visa status "is not a blanket work authorization," Kantor says. So, while there is no restriction preventing you from forming a corporation, there is a restriction on your being employed by that corporation.

The bottom line, Kantor says, is that you could start a corporation, but you would be prevented from receiving a salary from the corporation unless your visa status changes. Good luck!

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